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Australia is the world's driest continent. There's general agreement
that the country has to use water more efficiently. In many parts
supplies are in crisis.
At a meeting in Canberra, the Council of Australian Governments
has approved a national water plan.
It attempts to balance environmental concerns and the needs of
the community. The amount of water taken from rivers for
commercial use is to be cut and farmers
will be compensated.
At the heart of the initiative is a 350 million dollar scheme
to revitalise the Murray Darling river basin. It's one of the
most important water courses in
the country and stretches across four states in south-eastern
Australia. In recent times, it's been badly affected by excessive
irrigation and a lack of rain.
There was a concern, however, that projects to help revive other
struggling rivers will not be funded. A special commission
is to be set up and will help develop
the trade in water between the states and territories.
Domestic consumers could soon face permanent restrictions, such
is the perilous state of supplies in many parts of the country.
Whilst there was broad agreement
in Canberra, the Premier of Western Australia, Geoff Gallop, refused
to sign the deal, insisting it did nothing to
address the problems his region faces.
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supplies are in crisis: there
is so little water that it could cause hardship
national water plan: a way of deciding for the whole
country how water will be used
for commercial use:
for business activities such as farming
farmers will be compensated:
they will receive money to make up for earnings they
lose
courses: the routes that water takes
irrigation: supplying water
to the land to help crops grow
commission:
a group of people appointed to find out about something
the trade in water: a
situation where areas with too much water would sell it to areas
with not enough
broad agreement: many of those involved shared the same
opinions
to address the problems: to
deal with the difficulties
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